Union threatens action to stop BBC radio and online cuts

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The corporation is also said to be halving the number of web pages it publishes, which would mean a 25% cut to its online staff.

The National Union of Journalists condemned the cuts. Its general secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: "If true, these cuts will result not just in the loss of hundreds of jobs, but the loss of valuable, quality output aimed at young people and the Asian communities. We will fight them with all our might.

"I will be meeting with BBC management today, where I will seek assurances around job security for our NUJ members at the BBC and will make clear that we will do everything that's required, including taking industrial action, if necessary, to defend jobs at the BBC."

The BBC's director-general, Mark Thompson, is also said to be preparing to announce the closure of BBC Switch and Blast!, which are targeted towards the teenage market, according to The Times.

The proposals would reportedly yield savings of £600 million to be redirected at higher quality programming. Imported shows will also be cut.

The BBC said speculation about details was "premature".